Electric signaling fire-alarm apparatus.



ELECTRIC SIGNALNG FIRE ALARM APPARATUS.

@Wi-buco om @,Zh A Si W. H. KRNAN.

APPLICATION IILED NOV.7,1908.

Patented. Aug. 10, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l,

1 1" i m1 www l, l

W. H. KR-NAN.

TR1@ SIGNAMNG FIRE ALARM APPARATUS.

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APPLIOATO FILED NOT?, 1908.

Patented Aug. 10, 1909 2 SHEETS-SHEET CIK nnrrnn srnirns esgrime cerros.

WILLIAM n. KLRNAN, `or BAroNNnnnW JERSEY.

ELEGTRXG S'IGNALING FIRE-ALARM.' APPARATUS.

No. ceases.

Specification of Lettere Patent Patented Aug'. 10, 199.

elimination led Novenber *3., 1988. Serial No. 461,452.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. KIRNAN, a citizenef the United States, residing at Bayonne, Hudson county, New Jersey, have invented certu-iunew and useful' improvements in Electric Signaling Fire-Alarm Apparatus, of which the followingis a full, clear, und enact description.

h1 y invention relates to improvements in electric signaling re alarm apparotus,` and has for its object to produce such an epporatus in which a single thermostat is ernployed in connection with a single sional box to send a plurality of diiierent signa, s over e, sinvle transmission circuit.'

nother object of my invention is to rovide a thermostatic circuit controller rv ich shell be simple end accurate' in its operation, so as to change the condition of the circuit -controlled thereby a. predetermined number of times as the temperature increases, and

eliminate any possibility of undesired ecciden'tal changes vin the condition .of the circuit.

Another object ci my invention is to provide a signal box which, after a signal oi" one characterhes been transmitted, automatically'setsitseli so as to transmit e diileerent signal when next operated, the signals preierably being f g Warning, danger or ire.-

Another object ofmy invention isto provide means so that. when 'thesignal box is sending in e fire signal a call Will be sont in by astreetre alarm box in addition to the signal sent into thelocal receiving apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprinkling systemautomatically released by the thermostat, the thermostat beiugrccntrolledso as to prevent the operation of the sprinkler system until the temperature has reached a predetermined point.

Another. object of my invention is to provide e semaphore actuated by the thermostat 'so as to indicato abnormal conditions When,-

ever the thermostat moves so es to send in o "Warn1ng signal.

Another object of my invention is to pro- -vide a sprinkler system in which the main leading to a plurality of sprinklers is closed bv a valve common to all ci said sprinklers,

which valve is automatically onenerl when the thermostat is heated so t at the apparatus sends in the re signal.

Another object ofrny invention is to "iro- V vide means for indicatingthe condition o thc circuit controlled `by th'e'thermostat and to Referring more particularly to the drowings, 1 is the signal Wheel of the multiplecnll signal box, 2 1s a gear mounted on the shaft thereof, and 3 is a driving gear meshing with the gear 2. This driving geer'when free to movevis driven by any convenient driving means, snc-h as o. s ring 4, in the ordinary Way. The gear 3 as near its periphery o stop 5 slightly displaced circumferentielly with relation thereto, andslightly further removed from the 'periphery is a stop 6.

These stops are `engaged by o dctent 7 pivoted at 8, ond having connected to its lower end an armatureQ, which is actuated by an .electro-magnet 10. This detent 7 when the electro-magnet is denergized., is held by the spring 1i so as to-lie in the path of the stop 6 upon the Wheel 3. When the electro-magnet 10v is energized so as to attract its airmaturefQ/the detent is then moved so as to lie in the path of the stop 5 upon the wheel B. The result is, that if the electro--nmgnct 10 is energized when the detent is in engagement 'with the stop 6, thewheel 3 is released so as Vto permit it to revolve in the direction of the arrow. lf the electro-magnet l() hecomcs denergized before the Wheel 3 revolves sufficiently to cause the stop 5 to engage th' clctent 7, the fletent 7 isretracted by tho spring 11, so that it lies in the path of the stop 6 and therefore stops the revolution of the Wheel. 3 when it hos mode one complete' revolution. if the magnet l() remains onergized for a longer period than would lio reuired iorlthe Wheel to make one revolution, tlie dotant 7 is engaged hy the stop 5 so that thc Wheel 3 is stopped just before a revolution is completed. The partial revolution, however, is suiiicient to send in all" the signals that would be sont in by a completo rovolution. If et any tune after the wheel has been stopped hy the engagement of the stop' 5 with the deteut 7, the magnet l() becomes Fig. 3 `shows the circuit connecdenergized, the detent- 7 is moved by the` spring 11 out of the path of the stop 5 and into the path of the stop 6, permitting the wheel 3 to revolve a ver)7 slight distance corresponding to the position oll those stops completing the incomplete revolution and placing the apparatus in condition so that when the magnet 1() is again energized the operation just descrilied will ire repeated.

12, 13 and 1=l are three circuit controllers actuated by `the signal wheel 1. These circuit controllers, as slmwn, consist of two contacts, the lower of which is in cach instance a spring contact tending to separate from its upper or coinpal'iion contact and inoved into engagement with the upper contact by the action ,of the signal wheel 1, this signal wheel having" a: separate contact space for each of the circuit controllers, there being dill'orent projections, or series-of projections, `tor actuating the three circuit controllers respectively, the depressions permitting the several circuit controllers, when not short-circuited, to li-reak the circuit 15. For convenience in manufacture, the dcpressiims sending in the box identifying signal and one long signal, may extend way vacross the signal, wheel. One oll the other long signal notches must pass under controller 13 but not under 12 while the other. longr signal notch must pass` under controller 14 but notuncler con! rrlh 12 and 13, as shown in Figs. 1 and l.

i l is a transmission circuit having a lrattery having' a source ol current` lli, and a rea-y 17 controlling a .local circoli 1H, which contains an alarm bell 1f) and a .recording electromagnetic device 2li, such as are usuali)v cinploj'ed in local receivingr circuits.

When one or more of the three circuit controllers 12, 13 and 14. are free to act, they transmit over the circuit 15 a signal consisting,r ol` three short signals followed by two short signals, which in turn are followed by one, two or three long signals. 'lhe three short signals followed by the two short sie*- nals indicate the nuinbcr 32 ol' the particular' signal box which is being operated. The l'ollowingjr long signals indicate warning, danger and lire, correspomling as to whether one, two or three ol such lon;T signals are sent in, which depends on whether com troller 12 acts alone or whether one or both ol' controllers 125 and 1l are l'ree to cooperate therewith. For other signal boxes, ol course, the signal wheels will be made so as not to send in the saine. signal box cal 32, but, on thc contrary, io send in some other dis tinctive number. The l\.'arning, danger and firo" signals', however, would be. the same and would. l'ollow up thc box signal call the saine as above described.

.l1E all the controllers 12, 123 and 14 were l'rce to control the circuit 15, the alarm which would be. sent over the circuit 15 would correspond to the tiro condition. lf the controller i4 which would be sent in would correspond to danger condition. .li both the controller: 13 and 14 were short-circuitcd, the me. anism would send in a warning il. 'lhn circuit controllers 13 and 14 are normally cu t out ol action by short-cireuitin5 contacts and 22 connected as shown in Fig. 3. hesc controllers are actuated by a cani surface 23, which. is driven by a toothed member 24. This toothed member has three tcetl'i 25, 2G and 27, one of which is engaged by a p awl 2S attached to the shaft of' the gear 3, upon cach revolution of said gear. 'if he iai-ts are normally in the position shown in lig. 1, having been moved to that position by the handle 29. lVhen the gear 3 begins to revolve with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1., it will, near 'the end of its first revolution, cause the pawl 28 to engage the tooth 25 and move the member 24, together with the calin surface one step, with the result that the bearing portion of the short-circuitingl device 21 comes upon a depressed portion of the cam. surface 25%, permitting the engaging members of the short-circoiting device 21 to separate. An examination of the circuits as shown in Figs. 1, and 3 discliiises the fact that under these conditions the circuit controller '13 is no longer short-circuited, and is therei semis in a signal, in the produc-infr oi which.

the recess 11i j mrl'orrnsa part, the signal being sent corresponding to the lire signal above. referred to. Duringv the latter part of thel revolution ot' the wheel 3, while it is sending in the lire signal, the pawl engages the tooth 27 and moves thc shalt on which the device 24 is mounted, to a s'till more. ad-

4vaneed position. This shaft carries a bar 30, A

which, by the movement due to the engage-- ment oi the pawl 23 with the tooth 27 is moved so as to cause spring contacts 31-32 to engage other contacts, completing circuits for purposes hereinafter described.

32S is a roller detcnt engaging notches in the toothed member f-'l so as to insure the movement ot' that member to a complete step and hohl it yicldiugly in the position to which it has been moved.

The spring contact .'31 controls a local circuit -lf-l, 1n which is locatc'l a street fire alarm box 35. The spring contact 32 controls a were short-circuited, the alarm' sult that the electro-magnet 10, which there- Eil. and thereliiy establishes a circuit through totore was practically deenergized, becomes at least a part of the-electric battery 73, energizedsullicientlytoattractitsarinaturef? causing the bell to ring. The engagement and aetuatethe detent 7,with theresults hereof the contact 79 and the galvanorneter nee totore described. When the toothedmember die, however, causes the magnet 10 to be en '1o 49 moves still farther to the left, under the ergizeil, so that when the contact 79 is eninlluence oi' the thermostat, the electrical gaged, the magnet 1U will always be enerengagementbetween the pawls 50 and 51 is grized and the circuit through the bell SO will I breiten, the electro-magnet i() becomes be a complete circuit. The energizing,r of the 1 0 practicalhT denergized, and the detent 7 is magnet 1() not only completes the circuit 75 ln'ought into the path oit the projection (i through the bell S0, but, as betere explained, upon Ythe wheel 3. Upon each successive releases the wheel il, causing the signal wheel inedeterminml det, c of temperature rise, 1 to send in o, `Warning" call over the transthe electrical engagement between the pawls mission circuit to the local receiving circuit. e() and 51 is made and broken in a similar The operation ol the apparatus is as fol- 80 ini-inner and the detent 7 actuated accordlows', it being assumed that the parts are adingly and the signal mechanism put in opjusted as shown in Fig. 1. When for any eration. As belore described, the first signal cause the temperature about the thermostat will be a warning signal sont in'through rises, the toothed member 49 is moved to the the action of the circuit controller 12 alone.4 ,right until the dctent 5() leaves the :lirst tooth. 85 This signal will ne repeated n number of This causes an electrical engagement, to be times, corresponding to the ratio of diamemade between the detent 5() and the detent ters of the gears 2 and 3, which is preferably 51, short-circuiting3Y the resistance 74- in the. a ratio of one to i'our. When the rack 4Q circuit 72. This energizes the'lnagnet 10 so 5 reacl'ies the next contact making, or danN as to aetuate its armature 9 and cause the 90 ger position, the circuit :ontrollers 12 and detent '7 to release the stop G upon the wheel coact inisending in the signal, and the 3. Thereupon the wheel 3 revolves an(l the signal -is the characteristic danger77 signal. signal wheel i. actuatcs the circuitcontroller when the thermostat has reached the third 12 so as to send a warning call over the trans- 39- contact making position, all three circuit mission circuit 15, snid warning call consist- 95 controllersiZ, 13`and .14 coactin sending in ing of the identification. nuinberol' the box the signal, and the signal sent in is the fn-e and long` dash. It' the tenujierature about signal. the thermostat continues to rise, the pawl 51 'in order to indicate abnormal conditions in leaves its tooth and breaks the electrical on.-

the circuit 72, such as the accidental opening gageinent between the pawls 5() and de- 100 et the circuit, place in the circuit a galvaenergizing magnet 1() and causing,r the wheel nonieter Z7 whose needle is slightly counten 3 to return to its normal position. The revhalanced bj an arm 7S. When no current is elution of the -wheel 3 causes the 'iawl 2S to ilowing, the galvanometer needle. is moved engage the tooth and move t xetoothed to I the lett, causingI 'an engagement to be member 24 one step so that the short-cireuit- 105 made with the contact 79. leihen the our ing contacts 21, are disngageihieaving the rentisilo'wingf through the galwnometer,the circuit controller 13 t'ree to act upon the gnlvimometcr needle is held away from the next revolution of 'the signal wheel. Upon a' ctmtart 70. The contact 7.) .is connected to i'urtlmr rise in temyeraturq the thermostat *f5 one ln'anch ol' the circuit 72, and the est causes the toothed member Litl to move still '110 vaninneter needle is rouwt-ted electrieall)Y to farther te Ithe right until electrical connect'ne other branch ol the circuit between the tion is again established lnatween the conguhnuioinetcr coils and the battery 72%, so tirets 5() and 51, whereupon the electro-niagthat, when the electrical engagement is net 10 becomes again energized andthewheel 5G nnule between the needle and the stop 7S), together with the signal wheel, performs 115 any bre-sli beyond the 'points where the stop another cycle this time transmitting', in a ddi- Tt and galvanometer needle are connected tion to the i/.icntiiiwitiou number et the box, would be slio1ftcii'ct1iterl. ln order to cause two dashes, which the signal for danger. suoli. engagement vto operate a signal, l'. place During this operation the toothed member lit electric bell 80 in circuit with at .least a l 9A. has been moved still another ste by the 120 finition et the battery 73, the other terminal engagement.; oi' 'the tooth 2G so that the shortoiilthe bell being` connected to a contact 81, circ-uiting contacts 22 are disengaged, with which is engaged by the dete'nt 'nlien the the result that upon the next operation ofthe electro-magnet it) is energized. rlhe detent signal Wheel 1, the circuit controller 14 will 7 is connected by the branch conductor S2 alsovhe free to act. li' the tem )erature still 125 with the circuit in which the batter-5T 73 is infurther rises, the engagement etween the eluded, with the resnlJ that when the coniavls 50 and 51 'nistV breaks and subsetactr 79 is engaged. by 'the gal'vanorneter neequently is again made, whereupon the magdle the magnet 1G energized so as to retract net 10 is again. energized with the result that ltiie'detent r[,until ,it engageswith the Contact the Wheel 3 is again released and together 130 eaasss `with, the signal Wheel 1 performs a third cyn cle. Since the circuit controller 14 is free to act during this cycle, the signal transmitted is the lire signal, consisting oi the box nurnber 32, followed by three dashes., Toward' the end ot this third revolutionbi1 the wheel 3, the detcnt 28 engages the third` tooth 27 upon the toothed member 24, and causes the bar 30 to actuate the contacts 31and 32 so as to cause the circuit through said alarm box and also through the main valve releasing magnet 37. When the bar 19 has reached the tire position, the hammer 65 is released b y reason of the notch 64, and the support for the valve 71 is removed, with the result that the valve'in the sprinkler is open as Well as the main valve 43 in the supply pipe.

The semaphore 62 is released when the bar 419 moves to warning position so that Whenever a thermostat acts so as to sendkdn a call, its semaphore 62 will indicate that it has so acted.

'In ca se the circuit 7 2 is interrupted in any of its remote points, the galvanometer 77, which is in series therewith, becomes daenergized and its needle is brought oven so as to engage with the contact 79,V thereby\comple'ting the circuit through the magnet\\l0, causing` the saine to be energized so as to ad tuatc i's armato re 3. rlhe moven'ieiit of the armatureI D, together 'with thc engagement of the contact Si and 'the Contact 79, establishes a circuit 'through the electric bell S0 so that the bell sounds'whenever the circuitI 72 1s open at a remote point.v The energizmgof the magnet l() by the actlon of the" A galvanomc'tcr 77 also causes the wheel l to other calls are sent in or not.

transmit the ordinary ynrningf signal over the circuit l5.

'l'he resistance 7 -fl 1s such that thefcurrent passing through it when the circuits are complete is sulicient to balance the arm 7S ol the galvanmnotor 77 so as to cause the contact 79 to be disengaged, but is not sufli cient to have any appreciable eli'ect upon the elcctromagnet 10, that is, the current lowing through. the resistance 74 is not sufficient to hold the. armature 9 in attracted position at any time. Under normal conditions the magnet l() is always ractically denergized.

` Where the tootliet member 49 is made of conducting material, the parts of the pawls 50 and 5l therein should be made of insulating material, as shown in black, so that their encragenient with the toothed member 49' will not estdblish an electrical connection between their conducting portions.

lt is to be understood that whenever a warning call is sent in, it is the duty of some persen to investigate the system and ascertain the causeof the trouble,whether 'lflii person who thus investigates ascertains the trouble. ln case the call is sent in through the thermo`L stat controller, he ascertains 'the cause of the K4desired signals.

WholeA is capable of various modifications Without departing from the spirit and intent of my invention.

It will be seen from the foregoing'that I `have provided a thermostat circuit controller '.which is positive in its action and which will not permit accidental making and breaking of electrical engagement due to jar, vibration or other causes so as to send in un- I have further provided .a single signal box which will send in a `plurality of dillerent signals for successive de# grecs of temperature, 'the sending of one signal setting the box for' sending in the next signal of a ditlerent character. l have also provided means for opening' the main valve in the sprinkler system whenever the Atire signal is sent in, and lat no other time. I have also rovided means for actuating a street ire a arm box when a nre signal is sentin, and at no other time. Vl have also provided means so that Whenever the circuit controlled by the thermostat is interrupted at a distant point, that condition will be in-y dicated. It is further to be noted that when the handle 29 is moved downward manually to its lowermost limit and the detent 7 is moved `to the left' by the button 8B,

main therefor, and' a supply valve in said main, said thermostat being located in proximity to said sprinkler head and adapted to open its valve, and said suppl valve being electrically controlled by said ox.

. 2. lna lire alarm system, the combination of an alarm box ada ted to send in a plurality of alarms of dii `erent character, when started a corresponding number ol times, a thermostat for starting said box a corresponding number of times for a predetermined increase of temperature, a sprinkler system having a supply valve and electromagnetic means controlled by said box for opening said supply' valve after a plurality of cycles have been performed 7by said box.

` 3. In a lire alarm system, the combination of an alarm box adapted to sendv in a plurality of alarms of dilierent character when started a corresponding number et tin a thermostat for starting said hox a corresponding; ninnher ot' times for a predetermined increase in ten'iierature, a sprinkler system hai/nig a supply valve and a sprinkler head supplied with. a valve, said thermostat being located in proximity to said sprinkler head and adapted to open its valve, and

electro-magnetic means controlled hy said ho); for opening said supply valve alter a iiluallty of cyles have lie-en performed hy said hon.

`4. ln a 'lire alarm sistem, the combination of an alarmV hor. aiilapted to send in a plurality et alarma of riill'eront character when started a. ciiirresponding namher of times, a thermostat tor starting' saidv 'box ay corresponding number et times for a predetermined increase in temperature, ay sprinkler' system having a supply valve arida sprinkler head supplied. with a valve, said thermostat heilig located in proximity to saidj sprinkler head and adapted to open its valve after a plurality ot' cycles have been performed hy said hex, and electromagnetic means con.- trolled oy said ho"v opening said. supply valve after a plurality of cycles have licen performed hy said hex. c

t3. ln. an alarm. system, the coi'nhination nl ay sending circuit, a signal member, drivingjT means therefor, a plurality of circuit controllers engaging said signal menilzer each heilig' differently controlled tlierehy, so :is to eaehsend a ditlerent signal over said sendinfgl circuit when free to act, means tor cutting into electrical action one or more oi said circuit controllers, said cutting-inmeans being actuated by said drivingmeans, an electron'iagnetio detent eontiollingr said driving means, the circuit of said electro-magnetic tleteiit being normtlly closed through -a resistance, and a theriiiostatie circuit con- Moller making and hreaking a short circuit around sind resistance lor each of a plurality of predeterin nir-.fl successively. increased ternpera-tures, ein alarm receiving relay in said sending; circuit and controlled by any oi' said plurality of' circuit controller act, and a Water supply valige opened by said cutting-zn means when nl reifposition o. In a. fire alarm system Ahe combina s f when free to` Aand a lapted to short-circuit said resistance when the current falls, and a sprinkler' opened by said thermostat when in Hlire position.

'7. ln a Ylire alarm system, the combination of a sprinkler, a valve controlling"r the same, a therinostal means controlled hy said thermostat for sending in separate alarms for a plurality of successivo increases in temperature, and means controlled hy said thermostat for opening said valve after a plurality ol' alarms have heen started.

S. ln a lire alarms stem, the combination ol a sprinkler head, a valve in said head rontrolling the saine, a thermostat located in proximity to said head and valve, means controlled by said thermostat l'or sending in separate alarms for a plurality of successive increases in temperature, and means eo1itrollerl by said thermostat for opening ,said valve alter a plurality of alarms have heen started.

t). ln a lire alarm system, the combination of a sprinkler head, a valve in said sprinkler head controlling the same, a main supplying said sprinkler head, a main valve therein, a.

thermostat, means controlled h v said thermostat for sending in separate alarms for a plurality ot successiveincreases in tempera ture, and mea-ns controlled by said tlirrmw stat for opening hoth ot said valves after a, plurality o1Y alarms have. been started.

W, ll. lillNrlN.

TWitnesses H. B. Browsern, Amon Monronn. 

